Envelop-fastener.



A. E. EDMONDSON. ENVELOP FASTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 19, 1911.

1,030,507, Patented June 25, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cO.,wAsHlNa'roN, D. c.

TINTTED STATES PATENT @FFTCF.

ALFRED E. EDMONDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ENVELOP-FASTENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED E. EDMOND- soN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Fasteners, of which the followingis a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of fastening device for securing the closing flap of an envelop in such manner as to permit it to be readily opened for inspection of the contents by the post-a1 authorities which may be readily attached to any envelop, and which is so simple in its construction that it may be inexpensively manufactured. These objects are accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the fastening device in a convenient form for the market. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an envelop with the parts of the fastening device in position thereon. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the envelop in its closed position. Fig. 1 illustrates the first step in the act of applying the fastener to an envelop. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate succeeding steps.

In the form shown in the drawings, the fastener comprises a strip 1 of paper, cloth or other material suitable for service as a local reinforcement for the material of an envelop. A narrower and pointed tongue or strip 2 of metal is threaded through slits 3 and l in the strip 1 and one end is bent back upon itself so as to prevent it from becoming accidentally detached from the strip 1. The pointed end of this tongue is free from the strip for a considerable distance. The strip 1 is extended at one end to provide a removable section numbered 5 in the drawings. In the form shown, this section is integral with the main section 1, but it may, of course, be a separate piece. The integral form is convenient for manufacture, packing and shipment. For convenience, the joint between the pieces 1 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 19, 1911.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 639,383.

5 is weakened, as by a line of perforations 6, so that the two parts may be readily separated for use. The part 5 has an aperture 7 .of suitable size to loosely fit the tongue 2. In the form shown, the face of the strip which is uppermost in Fig. 1 is gummed, as indicated by the drawings.

In operation, the parts 1 and 5 of the strip are first torn apart, and after moistening the gummed surface of the part 1, it is inserted into the envelop in the position shown in Fig. 2, so that its gummed surface will adhere to the inner side of the bottom flap 8 of the envelop adjacent to the upper end of said bottom flap at a point approximately midway between the ends of the two side flaps 9. The tongue 2 is then bent up so as to stand out from the envelop in position to perforate the upper flap when closed. The section 5 of the fastener now has its gummed surface moistened, and is then placed in the position shown in Fig. 5, with the tongue 2 extending through in aperture 7 and with its gummed surface uppermost. lVhen the closing flap 10 of the envelop is now pressed to its closed position so that the tongue 2 perforates it, the upper section 5 of the fastener adheres to the inner face of the closing flap 10 and becomes an integral part of said flap to reinforce the latter against being torn where it has been perforated by the tongue 2: The tongue 2 is then bent down as shown in Fig. 3 and the envelop is ready for mailing.

The contents can be readily inspect-ed, as

it is obvious from Fig. 3 that by bending up the tongue 2, the closing flap 10 will be released.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that some of the details of the construction shown may be altered or omit-ted without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined by the following claim.

I claim An envelop fastener, comprising a piece of stiffening material having a perforation therein and having secured thereto at a distance from said perforation a metal tongue, Signed at Chicago this 17th day of July said piece being weakened between said 1911. tongue and aperture, whereby the piece may be readily separated into two parts for the ALFRED EDMONDSON' 5 purpose specified, said piece being gumnied WVitnesses:

for attaching the parts thereof respectively WM. R. RUMMLER,

to the body and closing flap of the envelop. EDWIN PHELPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

